معرفی
Erica van de Waal is a Professor at the University of Lausanne's Faculty of Biology and Medicine, Department of Ecology and Evolution. Since 2017, she has held the SNF Professor position and directed the Inkawu Vervet Project in South Africa since 2017, leading experimental field research with over 200 wild vervet monkeys. Her work focuses on the evolution of primate social behaviors, particularly cultural transmission and cognition.
Key affiliations include:
- SNSF Professor (2017–present)
- Director, Inkawu Vervet Project (2017–present)
- Scientific Coordinator, Inkawu Vervet Project (2014–present)
Research Interests
Van de Waal investigates how primates develop and transmit social behaviors, emphasizing cognitive mechanisms and ecological contexts. Her projects bridge evolutionary biology and behavioral ecology to understand cultural dynamics in wild populations.
Scientific Awards
- European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant
- Society in Science - Branco Weiss Fellowship
Education
- PhD in Biology (2011–2015), University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland
- Master of Science in Behaviour, Ecology, and Evolution (2010), University of Neuchâtel
- Bachelor of Science in Biology (2006), University of Neuchâtel
She collaborates with institutions like the University of South Africa and Mpumalanga Parks Board, maintaining a field site at Mawana Game Reserve.
